Bolivia declares national emergency as El Niño drought and floods hit 63 communities

Decree and government response

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz decreed a national state of emergency on Saturday, 31 October 2026, in response to the El Niño weather phenomenon. The decree allows the government to commit more economic resources and rescue teams to critical areas, and it calls for further deployments in parts of the country hit hard by flooding and drought. Paz said 63 communities are already suffering and have declared drought, while others are preparing for possible floods.

Paz presented the decree as a break from earlier years, when the government waited for the impact to arrive. He said the government had decided, with international cooperation and national effort, to pool economic and human resources. He asked for the cooperation of all institutions, departmental governments, municipalities and every Bolivian.

“This will be a phenomenon that will bring very hard blows in the form of drought and floods, and we need the cooperation of all institutions.”

What El Niño is and why it matters now

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that occurs roughly every two to seven years. It begins with warming of the Pacific Ocean, which brings changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns around the world and often produces extreme weather. Its intensity varies, and its impact depends on geography. This episode is due to peak at the end of 2026, and its effects could continue well into 2027.

Drought, cattle losses and flood risk

The drought affects just over 78,000 families in six of Bolivia's nine departments. A government report from civil defence authorities, published in late October 2026, also records the loss of more than 75,000 head of cattle. Paz said the drought is already hitting several regions and that floods could follow. He said the aim is to keep the impact of the drought and the floods that come after it as small as possible. Bolivia has a record of severe flooding: in December 2025, floods in the Santa Cruz region killed dozens of people.

Families affected by drought (just over 78,000)78,000

Cattle lost (more than 75,000)75,000

Families affected by drought (just over 78,000)

78000

Cattle lost (more than 75,000)

75000

Data from the article text

Regional spillover

Neighbouring countries are also feeling the effects. In Peru, El Niño has raised temperatures and favoured forest fires that killed at least 12 people in October 2026. Dengue fever, which the phenomenon has helped spread, has caused another 81 deaths in 2026 in the region. In Chile, the rains produced the rainiest October ever recorded in Santiago.

Paz added in a message to the nation:

“We have made an enormous effort to protect the environment so that the effect of this year's super El Niño is as small as possible.”

Outlook from the UN and WMO

The United Nations warned in late October 2026 that the current El Niño episode could reach an intensity that exceeds the climate monitoring scales used for four decades. The World Meteorological Organization reported in early September 2026 a nearly 100 percent likelihood that El Niño continues through February 2027. The timeline below sets out the key dates in the sources.